Farmers’ suicide: 500 Telangana families wait for dole promised in 2014

HYDERABAD: K Yamuna had a good life as the wife of a prosperous farmer. Now, she is a daily wage labourer. Her husband K Saidulu committed suicide in Nalgonda in Nov 2016 after falling on bad times. The state government announced ex gratia of Rs 6 lakh, but never released the money to the 37-year-old dead farmer’s family residing in Manikyalagudem hamlet of the district, making it difficult for Yamuna to feed her three children and fund their education.

Yamuna’s case is not an isolated one. Activists say in pre-Rythu Bima era from 2014 to August 2018, at least 500 families of farmers who took their lives are not only waiting for ex gratia but have also been denied benefits including preference in housing, educational support to kids and extra PDS rice.
As per official records of Nalgonda district collectorate, there are 58 cases pending since 2015-16 where ex gratia has not been paid to farmers’ families. “We met the revenue authorities at least six to seven times in the past four years, but in vain. In some cases, despite approval, the orders have not been issued,” said Nandyala Harinder, the Nalgonda general secretary of Human Rights Forum.
Harinder, who met Nalgonda collector Gaurav Uppal along with the widows of farmers, said none of the additional benefits, including priority in government subsidies and loans have been given. “Tehsildars are sitting on these orders due to which they are not getting any benefits. Even after orders were issued money has not been paid,” he said.
Complaints have gone to the government in 28 cases in Adilabad and 23 in Vikarabad.The highest number of cases are pending in Nalgonda, with the district topping in terms of suicides and Rs 3.72 crore lakh pending ex gratia. About 40 cases are pending in Bhongir and Suryapet. In Mancheriyal, nine cases have been identified by activist and a report also submitted to the collector, while Mahbubnagar and Karimnagar are other districts where lots of cases are pending.
Telangana special chief secretary (revenue) Rajeshwar Tiwari said he was aware of the issue. “A few collectors brought the issue to my notice. We have been paying the ex gratia. There could be cases pending in some district. We will attend to it and ensure they are cleared,” Tiwari said.
Rythu Swarajya Vedika activist Kondal Reddy said: “At least 3,810 farmers committed suicide in Telangana since the birth of the state. In 2017 itself, as per official records, 303 farmers families didn’t get the ex-gratia and after another year the numbers increased to 500 till Rythu Bima came into the picture.”
Agriculture principal secretary C Parthasarathy said the Rythu Bima scheme that came into effect on August 14, 2018, has extended support to 10,012 farm families so far across the state by providing them the insured amount of Rs 500 crore at the rate of Rs 5 Lakh to the designated nominee by the farmers.